Are you having fun? Are you taking those moments so very necessary for good mental health? I know it's difficult to carve out time and space for yourself. Our work places are more competitive. Our bosses are up against greater pressures to produce more with less. Thus, we're up against it, trying to be more productive with less time. Many of us find ourselves logging longer hours, sometimes... No, not sometimes, OFTEN, we're doing so off the clock, essentially working for free, more out of self preservation than a love of the job.

Think of puppy love or simply the act of falling in love. Some people are addicted to this, the rush. Remember? You can stay up all night, eat a grain of rice and feel contentedly full for 2-weeks. You seemingly need nothing but the relationship to exist. Love is the ultimate compliment, the pinnacle of kindness. Thus, ordinary kindness has a similar impact on one's life, though admittedly not as powerfully. Reports demonstrate positive work environments are good for morale, employee retention and production; however, too many work places employ punishing and grinding work places. They wear their employees down and expect top performance.

Many examples of employee support can be found looking around our globe. The afternoon nap, extended vacation time and employee exercise programs are just a few.

My intent is to encourage you for you. I know, as well as anyone, there are many times in our lives we must do what we must do and if that means long hours, we have to log them. Too, I know, as do you, we need to rest. We're human. Our bodies have requirements. Thus, you should take a few moments for you, time to recuperate, time to recharge.

These moments can be quick, easy and quite affordable. Something as simple as a morning walk. Some time to read. If you've been closed up and locked in your own world, morning coffee with some friends. If the wallet allows, a weekend getaway, something simple. Maybe a trip to the coast, stay in a motel chain, spend your days sitting on the beach. Or, if you live near a port of call, walk the dock districts. Pick up a local free paper, like the News and Review or the XX Weekly and look for free music venues. If you're buried in work, if your head is down, your neck knots of fatigued muscle from laboring over your computer, baby steps are the way to break back into the world of BALANCE!

Now, if your wallet is a bit healthier, look to something new, something a bit more challenging than a local getaway. Do something completely new, to get in and around new people, to experience new things and stimulate new personal growth. Try the Sierra Club or 20/30 Club. If you're really looking for something new, like a recent client told me, then try an adult summer camp. Adult meaning age and not anything that would require the movie rating company. Get to an adventure camp and have fun moving again, meeting new people and experiencing much personal empowerment.

Look, they have kid camps, they have family camps so, why not an adult camp? Getting out and about in nature is cathartic. There's something about being outdoors that inspires, encourages and supports healthy balancing. So, step outside of the box, do something unexpected and reap the benefits of a camp that challenges you emotionally & physically. The food is great, the staff phenomenal and new friends are always great to meet.

For myself, it took some serious indicators before I began creating that time for me: a little heart thing, gained a hundred pounds, put the fun-time of family life second to nearly everything, etc. We're working the long hours and going the extra-mile, for what? Certainly it must be for something and if not for ourselves and our loved ones then is it worth all the sacrifice? When you begin making this time for yourself, don't be discourage, for even the act of setting time aside to set time aside will be difficult. Unfortunately, it's a new skill but it's a worthwhile skill and I encourage you to reap the benefits of time focused on you.

Recently I spent nearly the entire weekend working away on my laptop, like so many weekends before; however, what was different were the moments I carved out for me and my family. One of those moments, was 40-minutes. In this 40-minute span my daughter and I grabbed our bikes and cruised the levy of the American River for a couple of miles. It was the best time I spent all weekend. I was rejuvenated and was able to work with a little smirk on my face recalling the conversation and time spent one on one with my kidlet. It'll feel foreign at first, making this time for you, but you'll appreciate those moments and begin to look forward to them.

Christopher Pyle is the owner/director of Action Whitewater Adventures of California. He has an adventure summer camp for teens and is offering a mini summer camp for adults this year. If you're interested in a mini-break, and would like to get together with adults, in a completely new and exciting venue, check out their camp page to make contact and share your interest in the adult program.